Southern California -- this just in

Bullying not suspected in fatal fight between 2 girls

February 26, 2012 | 10:38
am

Long Beach police said Sunday that they don't believe bullying played a role in the fight between two girls that left one dead.

"Detectives have spoken with family members and friends of both girls, and no one has alleged or provided any information that the decedent was being bullied," the department said in a statement released Sunday morning. "None of the students interviewed thus far have informed detectives that school officials were made aware of the impending fight."

The family of the dead girl, Joanna Ramos, said the two girls were quarreling over a boy.

“There are still many questions, many questions that cannot be answered,” said Long Beach Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna.

Luna said the cause of Joanna's death remains “undetermined” but offered more details on the physical altercation between the two children, which took place Friday after school at Willard Elementary.

Police said seven onlookers watched the fight. Neither their names nor the name of the other girl involved in the fight was released Saturday.

Joanna's aunt, Celina Cervantes, told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that her niece had complained of a headache after the fight and that the girl's mother rushed her to the hospital. Joanna had no visible wounds. She underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care.

"My sister-in-law rushed her to the ER, and two hours later she's gone," Cervantes told the station. "It's just sad. Very sad."

Officers were informed about 5:50 p.m. Friday that Joanna was not breathing. Although hospital personnel tried to revive her, she was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m., authorities said.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office will determine the cause of the girl’s death. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information for investigators is asked to call (562) 570-7244.

Photo: Alexandria Martinez, 12, lights a candle for her best friend, Joanna Ramos, 11, who died Friday, hours after fighting briefly with another girl near Willard Elementary in Long Beach. Credit: Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times